It was past midnight when Maria returned to the dormitory.
She opened the door quietly so as not to wake Sarah. But the small night lamp by Sarah's bed was on.
Sarah was awake. Sitting on her bed in her pink pajamas, reading a book, but her eyes constantly shifted to the clock.
Upon seeing Maria, her eyes lit up.
"You came? I was worried you got lost!"
The books landed on her desk with a dull thud. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her body.
"I didn't get lost. I was just studying."
Sarah asked cautiously:
"Did you eat dinner? I hid a meat sandwich for you. I knew you'd forget to eat."
She pointed to the plate on the table.
She glanced at the sandwich. Her stomach grumbled.
She couldn't deny it; Sarah, with all her talkativeness, was kind.
"Thank you."
Sarah smiled, happy that Maria hadn't rejected her. Then she held up her own gold bracelet.
"By the way... give me your bracelet. We forgot to charge it last night. I promised to fill it every night."
Maria paused.
This bracelet was a symbol of her weakness. A symbol that she needed help. Her pride resisted.
But she remembered the failure in magic class. She remembered Brook's contemptuous look.
She rolled up her sleeve and held out her wrist.
"Okay."
Sarah excitedly wrapped her hands around Maria's wrist.
"Don't worry, it'll be over soon."
Sarah's eyes closed. A gentle green light radiated from her hands and transferred to Maria's gold bracelet. The five gems on the bracelet lit up one by one.
Maria felt the warmth of Sarah's mana on her skin. A warmth different from her own mana.
Trusting is hard... but maybe it's necessary for survival.
"Done!"
Sarah pulled her hands back. She was panting slightly (transferring mana was tiring), but a smile was spread across her face.
"Now you have a full reserve. You won't run short in class tomorrow."
Maria looked at the glowing bracelet.
"Why are you doing this, Sarah? I didn't treat you well."
Sarah shrugged and turned off the lamp to sleep.
"Because my mom always said: 'Friends are like puzzle pieces. They don't need to be the same shape to fit together.' Goodnight, Maria."
Maria stared at the ceiling in the dark. The bracelet felt heavy on her wrist, but the warmth of the mana inside gave her strength.
Puzzle pieces...
Maybe you're right, Sarah. But in my puzzle, for now, you are just a 'power source.' I protect you because I need you. This is a deal, not friendship.
This was the lie she told herself to soothe her conscience. Because deep down in her heart, she really missed that sandwich and that smile.
She picked up the sandwich. The meat tasted cold, but to her, it tasted of hope.
***
At noon, when the dining hall turned into a battlefield of clattering cutlery and curious or stinging whispers, Maria would escape.
She had found a sanctuary: a secluded, isolated courtyard behind an old building where no one had set foot for years. High walls and wild ivy hid it from prying eyes.
Maria sat on the grass, biting into her sandwich and reading the thick book "Contemporary Wars of Alverin".
Silence and peace were the only things she wanted.
Rustle...
A dry branch snapped in the bushes.
Maria closed the book in a fraction of a second and drew her dagger.
Not wind. Footsteps. Heavier than a squirrel, lighter than a human.
She narrowed her eyes.
The bushes moved, and a shadow crawled out from the darkness of the foliage.
A small creature, maybe the size of an adult cat.
Its body was as black as a starless night; but its anatomy... was strange. It had long ears like a wild cat, and strangest of all were its three slender, whip-like tails that twitched nervously in the air.
Maria frowned.
Three tails? I don't know any animal in this world with such anatomy. Could it be...?
She remembered Master Simon's vague words saying that creatures of the Western Lands violated the laws of nature.
A magical monster? Here? In the middle of the Academy? If the guards or masters find out, they'll slaughter it.
Seeing Maria, the black creature flattened its ears. It arched its back and showed its white, sharp fangs.
Grrrr...
Its growl was weak and trembling, not threatening.
Maria adjusted the dagger in her hand and took a stance. She didn't know what abilities this creature had. Poison? Speed? Magic?
She waited for an attack.
But instead of pouncing, the creature stumbled. Its legs gave out, and with a short whimper, it fell onto its side.
Maria approached cautiously.
The grass beneath the creature's black body changed color to blood red.
A deep wound gaped along its flank, as if cut by a sword or wind magic. The bleeding was severe.
Maria raised the dagger. Her bodyguard instinct said: Unknown threat. Eliminate it.
She aimed the tip of the dagger at the creature's neck.
At that same moment, the creature opened its eyes and looked at Maria.
Large, ruby-colored eyes.
Its eyes weren't wild. They were afraid.
Maria's hand froze in the air.
Suddenly, time stood still for Maria. An image from her previous life flashed in her mind:
The empty apartment... nights returning tired from work... and Kuro-chan looking at her with his large yellow eyes. The only being waiting for her. The only one who didn't betray.
Her throat tightened. The image of Kuro-chan merged with the image of this wounded, lonely creature.
Damn it... I can't.
She sheathed the dagger and knelt.
"Don't be scared, little one... I won't hurt you."
She reached out her hand to see the wound.
With its last strength, the creature turned its head and clamped its teeth onto Maria's hand.
"Ouch!"
Its sharp teeth scratched Maria's skin, but the creature's jaw was so weak it couldn't tear the flesh.
Maria didn't pull her hand back. She let the creature bite to calm down. With her other hand, she gently stroked its head. Its fur, unlike Kuro-chan's, was rough and cold, like touching darkness.
"Shhh... calm down. I'm not an enemy. I'm alone like you."
When the creature's jaw loosened, Maria put her hand on the wound.
The bleeding is severe. I have to stop it.
She remembered Master Albert's class: "Healing Theory".
But she didn't have enough mana for it. Even with the bracelet, she could only use a simple spell like a fireball once and her Aura technique (Mana Edge) five times.
Think, Maria... I don't need complete tissue regeneration. I just need to clot the blood.
She touched the gold bracelet Sarah had given her. She felt a weak flow of mana.
Thank you, Sarah.
She drew the mana stored in the bracelet and focused it on stopping the blood.
Hope it works.
A faint light shone.
The creature whimpered and shivered, but the bleeding slowly stopped.
Maria wiped the sweat from her forehead. She took her clean, pressed handkerchief from her pocket and bound the wound tightly with the skill of a soldier.
"Done. You'll survive."
Then she brought her half-eaten sandwich forward. She separated pieces of meat and held them in front of the creature's mouth.
The monster cub sniffed. Hunger overcame its fear, and it started eating voraciously.
Maria sat and watched. For the first time in this world, she felt that being useful didn't always mean fighting.
When the food was finished, the creature gained a little strength. It stood on its legs and stared at Maria. It wagged its tail.
Maria got to her feet. Her voice turned firm but sad tone:
"Go."
The creature stood still.
Maria stomped her foot on the ground.
"I said go! Don't stay here. If others see you, they'll kill you. Go to your mom and dad... if they haven't left you alone too."
The monster cub seemed to understand her words. It held her gaze for a moment longer, as if wanting to memorize her face. Then it turned and disappeared like a silent shadow among the bushes.
Maria looked at the empty spot. She touched her hand where the creature's teeth marks remained.
Goodbye, little shadow. Try to survive in this cruel world.
I have to go to the library. I have to find out what you are... before others find you.